Epaggelia

Jesus healed many people of all kinds of illnesses. As explained in the Gospel of Luke: “At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, ‘You are the Son of God!’ But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah” (Luke 4:40-41). Jesus also would not allow his enemies to capture him before the perfect timing of his sacrifice. Both acts of restraint are miraculous. Why?

This type of miracle in two scenarios, enacted towards demons and people have a common goal; Which is the evil intent or purpose of undermining Christ’s mission. If Jesus permitted demons to keep on testifying, it would easily prompt people to think of the Messiah only as a miracle worker and not as the Servant of God coming to redeem sinners from eternal death and hell. The same can be said for his physical enemies trying to arrest him and/or kill him before the perfect timing of Our Father in Jesus. The Pharisees’s evil intent to thwart God’s perfect plan, would allow people to accept Jesus as just another martyr and not the King of kings orchestrating the redemption of humanity in his self-sacrifice by crucifixion on his own terms. In both scenarios, the sovereignty of God in Jesus is being attacked, and Jesus won’t let it continue, MIRACULOUSLY. See Luke 4:28-30 & John 10:39. The best examples of this miraculous power is his open rebuke of the Priests in the Temple courtyards, while everyone knew posted & armed guards were available! John 2:13-25 & Matthew 21:12-13 & 23-27.

This type of miracle was even enforced by the apostle Paul towards the servant girl possessed by Satan in Acts 16:16-18. After Paul performed such miraculous power, he would be tested before courts and given the opportunity to attribute this power to Christ as Sovereign! Today, when we are given any evidence of God’s power over sinful situations, it is the sovereignty of Christ that we should proclaim openly! We should remember to proclaim His rule with compassion, as in most examples of his miraculous restraint, he would heal the sick & oppressed at the same time. Speak the truth in love, Ephesians 4:15.

Even when Jesus was giving himself over to his enemies he restrained them from killing him while being beaten repeatedly and while being scourged. Many people die while being persecuted in those ways. Was it the miraculous power of restraint on his enemies by Jesus that allowed such prolonged suffering until he died at the right time on a cross? What do you believe is the purpose of such slow torment? To prove his love for us all, even the worst of us who were in open rebellion.